What comes to your mind when we talk about contemporary romance novels in India?
Main characters in their twenties, college romance, Bollywood references, nostalgia, and overdone love story tropes? And we bet you’ve only heard of a few names over and over again when it comes to romance authors in India.
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What if we tell you that there exists a whole different world of contemporary romance books that you might not have heard of before? This blog post brings you a special curation of modern contemporary romance novels by Indian authors all around the globe that are on their way to become the talk of the town.
01. The Trouble with Hating You by Sajni Patel
The main character being a biomedical engineer, this book represents all those women in STEM who also love to fantasize being in a rom-com every now and then. In this book, Liya Thakkar meets the guy her parents were trying to set her up with, the guy she was running from, at her workplace. With workplace banter and enemies-to-lovers trope done right, this contemporary romance will have you snuggle under a blanket with a warm cup of coffee or tea.
02. The Henna Start-Up by Andaleeb Wajid
A feisty and young college girl from a lower-middle class family, already has her life planned for the next decade. Further studies and financial independence aside, she’s also ready to help her mother out with her henna business as part of her college project. However, Abir Maqsood not only shields herself from unsolicited marriage proposals but also from the restrictions of her conservative family as she tries to find time for her start-up and deals with blooming feelings for a guy in her college.
Also read: Young Adult Books by Indian Authors
03. Pride, Prejudice, And Other Flavours by Sonali Dev
You might have come across a lot of Pride and Prejudice retellings before, but this one offer something completely different on the pages. With flipped genders of the main characters, Sonali Dev brought us a proud Indian-American neurosurgeon named Trisha Rajes and a skilled but judgy chef named DJ Caine. In Indian love stories, class difference has always been a big part of the plot. But this contemporary romance book uses that trope quite differently. If you’re someone who loves to read fresh takes on old classics or someone who craves a lighthearted romance read after a long week, go ahead and pick this one.
04. All That Sizzles by Sakshama Puri Dhariwal
With contemporary romance, it is easy to fall into a pattern of finding books with same tropes done over and over again. But Sakshama Puri Dhariwal is a master of creating sizzling fresh stories that not only keeps up with the evolving world and its issues but also by serving real and relatable characters. This book is the third in her interconnected novel series and yet acts as a standalone. Apart from the slow burn chemistry between the main characters, this book sets the stage by highlighting the importance of mental health and the support they receive in everyday life from people in immediately family and friends’ circle. If you’ve been looking for a green flag main character, go find Nik Shankar in this book and daydream your way to work.
Also read: Best Books by Anuja Chauhan
05. Three Impossible Wishes by Anmol Malik
If you’re looking for a book that has it all – family drama, love, and friendship – then you must try this contemporary romance book. Written in a fresh and fun style, this book is all about navigating family expectations, getting trapped in a love triangle and at the same time, trying to fulfill three impossible wishes. The main character is sent to England by her father for college and while she tries to deal with everything new, she’s also figuring out her love life as if it’s a tough puzzle.
06. Red Flags and Rishtas by Radhika Agrawal
In this world of modern dating, finding a rom-com that actually brings back hope is not so difficult anymore, thanks to this contemporary romance novel by Radhika Agrawal. Indian rom-coms love to play with tropes such as opposites attract and the idea of a perfect match and this book is a delightful new addition to such stories. Highly relatable for the currently confused pool of daters who are also dodging the cupid’s arrow from their parents as they try to find matches through arranged marriage, this book captures the modern dating life wonderfully in this story.
07. The Grand Samara by Trisha Das
An Indian rom-com without wedding setting is almost unthinkable. Here’s another retelling of a very popular romance book called The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer where wedding drama and the grand main character of Samara lights up the palette of this contemporary romance book. The main character has this quirky job of being a wedding photographer while she’s uprooted from here and there as her diplomat father keeps hopping cities. This novel, with its charming romance, and dramatic plot, also pinpoints on how one can find home (and love) in the most unexpected ways.
08. Destination Wedding by Diksha Basu
If you love to read rom-coms that are set against the vibrant backdrop of an Indian wedding, we have another recommendation for you. Imagine feeling like you’re at a dead-end, like our main character in this novel, as she decides to escape life for a weekend by attending her cousin’s wedding in India. However, while leaving behind chaos, she forgot that she was diving straight into a pool of family drama. With her witty and charming writing style, Diksha Basu brought forth this story we could all escape into for a weekend. Are you ready for the romance hidden in these pages?
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09. Luv (un)Arranged by N. M. Patel
Eldest daughter meets Eldest son, in an arranged marriage set-up, and a few “unreasonable” demands of the bride. After being rejected for her rules, comes a man from a completely different family dynamics who finds her rules quite reasonable. But what about the insecurities and countless doubts that comes with the idea of an arranged marriage? This book provides a plethora of heart-warming moments for the reader to fall for while the main characters start to fall for each other.
10. Match Me If You Can by Swati Hegde
This contemporary romance, set in Mumbai, is a perfect blend of Indian family drama and elements from the popular Jane Austen novel, Emma. Yes, another promising retelling of the age-old classic brings us a fresh new avatar of the character we love to not-love. Swati Hegde ties up a warm and breezy contemporary romance that will sweep you off your feet. Much like the male main character of this book, Jaiman Patil.
Also read: How much money does an author make in India
You might have noticed a low output on Bollywood rom-coms these days. Well, there’s nothing to worry about because these books are well capable of providing you that much needed escape from your everyday life. Reading contemporary romance books by Indian authors can feel like breath of fresh air with its kaleidoscope of amazing characters and all-too-familiar settings but in very different point of views. Contemporary romance books are like indulgences you sneak onto your plate or maybe a staple and balance diet for you. Either way, you’ll find something in this list that will suit your taste, for sure.